ANAHEIM — All spring the Angels emphasized to their pitchers the importance of getting ahead in the count with first-pitch strikes.
They ranked 29th in the majors in that department on April 22, when the Angels had a meeting to break down what was going wrong.
Since then?
The Angels have been 30th. Dead last.
“We know what we want to do,” Manager Ron Washington said on Tuesday. “We’ve got to do the work to make it happen. We’re talking about it every day. We’re going out and trying to do it. I can’t give you a timetable when it’s really going to kick in. It’s part of our mindset. At some point it will kick in. It just doesn’t kick in as fast as we would like to see it.”
Obviously, a pitcher has a significant advantage if he can get ahead. The major league OPS this season after a 1-and-0 count is .788, compared with .589 after an 0-and-1 count.
The Angels are even more extreme.
The Angels are 11th-best in the majors after an 0-and-1 count, holding opponents to a .574 OPS. When they fall behind, 1-and-0, they’ve allowed an .813 OPS, which is 21st.
“It’s been a struggle,” pitching coach Barry Enright said. “It’s something that we preached since Day One, and did really well in spring training. They still get their printouts (with the stats) every series and we go through it and talk about the strategies behind it.”
Enright said in that meeting some of the pitchers opened up about their fears of getting hit by being so aggressive in the strike zone. They have tried to allay those fears by pointing out that the pitchers’ raw stuff is good enough.
For example, the Angels’ pitchers rank sixth in the majors in getting whiffs on pitches in the zone.
“It’s getting guys to trust those things, because we have plenty of stuff,” Enright said. “It’s still a mystery to me. I can’t put a finger on it, to be honest with you.”
Washington said it’s part of the youth of the staff, particularly among the starters. He remains confidence that they will figure it out.
“We will get to that point, I have no doubt,” Washington said. “We will get to that point where we start pounding the first-pitch strike. They’re trying. They want to. It’s just not happening with the consistency that we would like to see it, because we put it out there and that’s what we tried. It’s a process.”
IMPROVEMENT
Washington said he’s been impressed with what he’s seen from rookie infielder Kyren Paris since he’s been back in the majors.
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Although Paris is still just 2 for 11 in the first five games since he’s been back, Washington said he’s seen encouraging signs.
“He looks more relaxed,” Washington said. “He actually looks like all that he’s been through to this point, he’s starting to be able to apply with relaxation. And that’s what it takes to play in the big leagues. You got to be relaxed. He’s got to trust what he’s doing. He looks like he’s starting to do that.”
NOTES
Right-hander Chase Silseth (elbow inflammation) threw his first bullpen session since going on the injured list. Silseth is scheduled for another bullpen session on Friday. If that goes well, he could begin facing hitters around a week later. Silseth is expected to make at least three starts in the minors before he would be considered to be activated. …
Shortstop Zach Neto got a routine day off on Tuesday. Neto had played 41 of the Angels’ first 42 games.
UP NEXT
Cardinals (RHP Lance Lynn, 1–1, 3.79 ERA) at Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 1-4, 5.75 ERA), Wednesday, 6:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
